The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced the 14-member squad for the upcoming three-match One-Day series between Pakistan Shaheens and Bangladesh ‘A’. Set to take place at the Islamabad Club from August 26 to August 30, the series promises to be an exciting showcase of emerging cricket talent from both nations.
Team Leadership and Squad Composition
Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris will lead the Pakistan Shaheens as they face off against a formidable Bangladesh ‘A’ side. The selectors have retained 12 players from the squad that recently competed in the two 50-over matches and the Top End T20 series in Darwin, Australia. This decision reflects the PCB’s commitment to providing consistent opportunities for emerging players to prove their skills on the international stage.
The retained players include Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mubasir Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, and Usman Khan. Joining them are left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz, who played in the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’, and left-hand batter Azan Awais, a standout performer for Pakistan U19 in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2024.
Recent Performance and Key Players
The Pakistan Shaheens are coming off a successful tour of Darwin, where they won seven out of nine white-ball games under the leadership of Mohammad Haris. The team showcased their prowess by defeating Northern Territory Strike and Bangladesh ‘A’ in the 50-over matches, with Jahandad Khan emerging as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 15 wickets. Usman Khan and Muhammad Irfan Khan also played crucial roles, with Usman scoring 222 runs and Irfan smashing a century in the Top End T20 series.
Series Schedule and Match Officials
The three 50-over matches will be day games, beginning at 9:30 am with the toss scheduled for 9:00 am. The series will be officiated by Rashid Riaz and Abdul Moqeet as on-field umpires for the first match, with Waleed Yaqub as the third umpire and Iftikhar Ahmed serving as the match referee. Subsequent matches on August 28 and August 30 will see slight changes in the officiating team.
Statements from Captains
Speaking ahead of the series, Pakistan Shaheens captain Mohammad Haris expressed confidence in his team’s abilities: “The Shaheens team is in good sync as most of the players have shared the dressing room and field together on the recent tour. Being the leader of the side, I’ll look to get the best out of the team and win the series, which will be a great honor for all of us while playing at home.”
Bangladesh ‘A’ captain Towhid Hridoy also shared his thoughts, stating, “The Shaheens are going to come hard at us in their backyard, but we will take inspiration from our batting heroics in the second four-day match where we dominated with the bat, and the players will be eager to emulate the performance.”
As the Pakistan Shaheens prepare to take on Bangladesh ‘A’, fans can expect a thrilling series filled with competitive cricket. With both teams boasting talented young players eager to make their mark, the matches will not only be a test of skill but also a glimpse into the future of cricket in the region.
Pakistan Shaheens Squad: Mohammad Haris (captain) (wicket-keeper) (Peshawar), Abdul Faseeh (Rawalpindi), Arafat Minhas (Multan), Azan Awais (Sialkot), Faisal Akram (Multan), Haseebullah (wicket-keeper) (Quetta), Jahandad Khan (Rawalpindi), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Peshawar), Muhammad Irfan Khan (Faisalabad), Mohammad Imran Jnr (Peshawar), Mubasir Khan (Rawalpindi), Omair Bin Yousuf (Karachi), and Usman Khan (Karachi).
Bangladesh ‘A’ Squad: Towhid Hridoy (captain), Anamul Haque, Hasan Murad, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Mahidul Islam (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Naim, Mosaddek Hossain, Rejaur Rehman Raja, Rishad Hossain, Ruyel Miah, Saif Hassan, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
